Electric-clock system



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'0. H. CARTER. ELECTRIC GLOGK SYSTEM.

No. 411,138. Patented Sept. 17, 1889.

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ELECTRIC GLOGK SYSTEM. No. 411,138. Patented Sept. 17, 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shget 3. G. H. CARTER.

ELECTRIC CLOCK SYSTEM. No. 411,138. Patented Sept. 17; 1889..

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UNITED STATES CHARLES H. CARTER, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC-CLOCK SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,138, dated September 17, 1889.

Application filed December 27, 1888. Serial No. 294,815- (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GnARLEs H. CARTER, of Brooklymin the county of Kings and State of New York, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric- Clock Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of that class of devices which are controlled by electric currents transmitted from a regulator or master clock to a number of secondary clocks located in the main circuit for the purpose of actuating them in synchronism with the master-clock, and indicating the time on any number of dials in the main circuit.

The objects of my invention are to afford simple and convenient means for disclosing errors or irregularities in the main circuit and for preventing sparking in the masterclock.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the organization of my electric-clock system, and showing the connection of the regulator or master-clock with the secondary clocks arranged in multiple arc in the main circuit, and of an auxiliary or telltale clock located near the masterclock in an auxiliary circuit that is operated by an independent battery after all the secondary clocks have responded to the impulse of the master-clock. Fig. 2 is a detail front elevation of one of the secondary clocks. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same on line x at, Fig. '2 and Figs. a, 5, and 6 are details of the contacts in the master-clock and of the shunt-circuit arranged in the same for preventing sparking at the contact-points.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the regulator or master-clock, and O C anumber of secondary clocks, which are arranged in multiple arc in the main circuit L. The electric impulses are furnished by a main battery 13, located in the main circuit L, and by a circuit-closing device, which is applied to one of the movable parts of the masterclock, preferably to the arbor a of the escape ment-wheel, and which is constructed of a disk (Z, of insulating material, provided with a radial contact-pin (1', which establishes metallic connection with the arbor of the escapement-wheel, as shown in Fig. 6. The arbor a is in electrical connection with the supportingframe of the master-clock and by a binderpost a with one pole of the battery, while a contactspring (Z that rides on the insulated disk (Z and is insulated from the metallic frame of the master-clock, is connected by a binding-post a and conducting-wire with the other pole of the battery. At each minute or at shorter and longer periods of time, if it be desired to actuate the secondary clocks more or less frequently than once for each minute, the contact-sprii'ig (Z establishes the main circuit by contact with the radial pin (1' and sends an electric impulse over the main line, which actuates the electric magnets of all the secondary clocks O O and moves by suitable transmitting mechanism the clock-trains of the same.

For the purpose of preventing sparking at the contact-points of the master-clock, a shuntcircuit is arranged in connection with the arbor a of the escapement-wheel by arranging a metallic disk f on the same, which disk is provided at one point of its circumference, in line with the radial pin d of the disk d, with an insulated segment f of greater size than the head of the contact-pin (1'. Immediately after the contact of the spring (I? with the pin (1 is discontinued the contact between the metallic disk f and a second contact-spring f is established, and thereby the induced current set up in the main circuit neutralized by a resistancecoil r in the shunt-circuitf The shunt'circuit is established by the contact of contact-spring f? with the metallic circumference of the disk f, as shown clearly in Figs. a and 5, and discontinued by the segment f when the impulse is sent by the contact-pin d and spring d into the main circuit. By the neutralizing action of the resistance-coil in the shunt-circuit the contact-points of the master clock are protected against sparking and corrosion. and no disturbing influence exerted by the induced currents 011 the electromagnets c of the secondary clocks located in the main circuit.

The clock train of each secondary clock 0 is actuated. by a fulcrumed and spring-actuated armature-lever which is made elbowiliary or tell-tale clock, the electro-magnet D cesses between the teeth and moves thereby the main wheel 0 for the distance of one tooth. A gravity check-pawl 132 is pivoted above the main wheel 0 and engages the teeth of the mainwheel during the time when the pallet 10 is Withdrawn by the action of the electro-magnet C, so as to secure thereby the reliable working of the actuating-train of the secondary clock. An auxiliary circuit is arranged in connection with the main circuit, said auxiliary circuit being formed of an auxiliary battery B and conducting-wires L, which connect a contact-stud g and contactpoint 9' on each armature-lever C with the fulcrum g of the armature-lever of the next following secondary clock, the contact-point g of the armature-lever 0 being adjoining to the contact-stud g.

Near the master-clock is arranged an auxof which is located in the auxiliary circuit L, said electro-magnet operating an elbowshaped armature-leverD having pallets, and thereby the clock-train of the tell-tale clock D in the same manner as the secondary clocks,

whenever the auxiliary circuit L has been established by the proper working of the actuating devices of all the secondary clocks.

It is obvious that as long as the tell-tale clock D works in synchronism with the mastor-clock A all the secondary clocks have responded to the impulses sent out by the master-clock; but as soon as the main circuit should for some'reason or other be out of order, so that one or more of the secondary clocks in the same do not respond to the impulses of the master-clock, the tell-tale clock would not be actuated and indicate by its being out of synchronism with the main clock that the main circuit is out of order and has to be looked after.

By the auxiliary tell-tale circuit, in connection with the tell-tale clock, a full and efficient control of the main circuit is ob tained, by which any defects or irregularities in the same can be quickly discovered, so that they may be removed, and thereby a frequent cause of dissatisfaction with electric-clock systems remedied, so that they can be worked with greater regularity and reliability.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent- 1. The combination of a main circuit, a master-clock having circuit-closing devices located in the main circuit, a number of secondary clocks provided with clock-trains and having electro-magnets disposed in said main circuit, oscillating armature-levers actuated by said electro-magnets and provided with pallets for engaging said clock-trains, an auxiliary circuit composed of fixed contact-studs located adjacent to said armature-levers, and wires connecting the fulcrums of said levers with said fixed contact-studs, and a tell-tale clock located in said auxiliary circuit and operated thereby, substantially as described.

2. In an electric-clock system, the combination of a master-clock, an insulating-disk on an arbor of the clock mechanism, a radial contact-pin in said disk forming contact with the arbor, a contact-spring riding on the surface of said disk, a metallic disk on said arbor provided with an insulated segment in line with and of greater size than the contact-pin of the insulating-disk, a second contact-spring riding on the metallic disk, a shunt-circuit connected with the second contact-spring, and a resistance-coil in said shunt circuit, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES H. CARTER. Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, CARL KARP. 

